Channel 4 plays down Big Brother race row

London, Jan 18: Channel 4 attempted to cool an escalating row over alleged bullying of Indian Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother, saying there was no clear evidence of racism.

As the number of complaints to the media regulator topped 19,000 and police probed e-mail threats against housemates, the broadcaster said Shetty had not spoken out about any racism.

''There has been no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour directed against Shilpa,'' Channel 4 said in a statement today.

''However, there has undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females.'' Singer Jo O'Meara, reality TV star Jade Goody and model Danielle Lloyd face claims they have ganged together to bully Shetty, 31.

Ofcom said 19,300 viewers have complained about her treatment.

Questions were asked in the House of Commons, forcing Prime Minister Tony Blair to express his opposition to ''racism in all its forms''.

India has taken up the issue with the British government after a series of protests.

Today's highlights show reportedly drew the third biggest ratings of the series.

The real-life drama made headlines in British and Indian newspapers.

Police in Hertfordshire said two e-mailed threats had been sent to the show's broadcaster Channel 4.

''(They) contain unspecified threats against a number of the housemates. Police are currently looking in to the e-mails,'' a spokesman said.

Detectives also received a telephone call complaining about ''alleged racist behaviour'' on the programme, he said. The caller was referred to the media watchdog Ofcom.

PUBLIC OUTRAGE

At least 2,000 e-mail and telephone complaints have been made directly to Channel 4.

Shetty, an A-list Bollywood actress, has been reduced to tears after run-ins with fellow celebrities in the ''Big Brother'' house -- a purpose-built complex of rooms and a garden where the nine remaining housemates are living.

Filmed by hidden cameras, the antics of the housemates can be watched 24 hours a day with highlights played every evening.

A string of apparent slurs about Shetty, including Goody reportedly saying, ''She makes me feel sick. She makes my skin crawl,'' has also prompted discussions on Web sites.

Lawmaker Keith Vaz even put forward a motion in parliament, saying, ''We would not tolerate this kind of racism on any other type of television programme''.

The housemates alone remain unaware of the furore in the outside world, which -- if nothing else -- will boost the show's viewing figures even further.

REUTERS

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